Refrigerator and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator and a control method thereof are disclosed. A refrigerator is able to supply water preserved in a cool state to an ice maker. The refrigerator includes an ice-making chamber, an icemaker provided in the ice-making chamber, a dispenser for dispensing water, and a water tank connected to the dispenser and the icemaker. The water tank stores water in a cool state.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0043125, filed on May 18, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a control methodthereof.

BACKGROUND

Generally, refrigerators are home appliances for preserving food stuffsfresh or frozen. Refrigerators may perform cooling using a compressor,condenser, evaporator and expansion device.

A refrigerator compartment for preserving stored objects fresh and afreezer compartment for freezing stored objects may be provided in thebody of the refrigerator. Here, the evaporator supplies cold air to therefrigerator and freezer compartments.

A door is coupled to each front of the compartments and an icemaker formaking ice and a dispenser for water-supplying are mounted to the dooror the refrigerator and freezer compartments.

According to water-supply to an icemaker and dispenser of a conventionalrefrigerator, water provided by an external water supply source passes afilter and the water is stored in a water tank provided in apredetermined portion of the refrigerator compartment.

The water from the water tank flows into the dispenser. If a user pushesa lever of the dispenser with a cup, the cooled water stored in thewater tank is discharged and the cool water can be supplied to the user.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a refrigerator includes a refrigerating compartment, anicemaker configured to freeze liquid water into ice, and a dispenserconfigured to dispense liquid water and ice made by the icemaker. Therefrigerator also includes a water tank that is positioned at therefrigerating compartment, that is configured to receive liquid waterfrom a water supply source, and that is configured to store the receivedliquid water in a cooled liquid state. The cooled liquid state has atemperature lower than a temperature at which the water is received fromthe water supply source. The refrigerator further includes a dispensertube that is configured to guide water stored in the water tank in thecooled liquid state to the dispenser for dispensing and an icemaker tubethat is configured to guide water stored in the water tank in the cooledliquid state to the icemaker for making ice.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the refrigerator may include a passage valve connected to thewater tank, the dispenser tube, and the icemaker tube and configured tocontrol supply of water stored in the water tank in the cooled liquidstate to the dispenser alone, the icemaker alone, or both the dispenserand the icemaker. In this example, the refrigerator may include arefrigerating compartment door configured to open and close at least aportion of the refrigerating compartment. The icemaker and the dispensermay be positioned on the refrigerating compartment door and the watertank and the passage valve may be positioned in the refrigeratingcompartment. The refrigerator also may include a control part configuredto control the passage valve to stop supply of water to the icemakerduring operation of the dispenser, and control the passage valve tore-start supply of water to the icemaker when the operation of thedispenser stops.

In some examples, the refrigerator may include a passage valve connectedto the water tank, the dispenser tube, and the icemaker tube andconfigured to control supply of water stored in the water tank in thecooled liquid state to the dispenser alone or the icemaker alone. Inthese examples, the refrigerator may include a refrigerating compartmentdoor configured to open and close at least a portion of therefrigerating compartment. The icemaker and the dispenser may bepositioned on the refrigerating compartment door and the water tank andthe passage valve may be positioned in the refrigerating compartment.Further, in these examples, the refrigerator may include a control partconfigured to control the passage valve to stop supply of water to theicemaker during operation of the dispenser, and control the passagevalve to re-start supply of water to the icemaker when the operation ofthe dispenser stops.

In some implementations, the refrigerator may include an accommodationpart configured to accommodate the water tank. In these implementations,the refrigerator may include a cold air guide duct configured to guidecold air from inside a freezer compartment toward the accommodationpart, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of theaccommodation part, and a closable member provided at the cold air guideduct and configured to open and close the cold air guide duct and,thereby, control an amount of cold air drawn into the accommodationpart. In addition, in these implementations, the temperature of theaccommodation part may be maintained above a freezing temperature.

In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a storage compartment, a doorconfigured to open and close at least a portion of the storagecompartment, an ice-making chamber, and an icemaker provided in theice-making chamber and configured to freeze liquid water into ice. Therefrigerator also includes a dispenser mounted on the door andconfigured to dispense liquid water and ice made by the icemaker and awater supply device configured to supply water to the icemaker and thedispenser. The water supply device includes at least one water tank thatis configured to store liquid water below a predetermined temperatureand that is connected to both the icemaker and the dispenser.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the water supply device may include a passage valve connectedto the at least one water tank to control passage of water dischargedfrom or drawn into the at least one water tank. In this example, thepassage valve may be configured to allow passage of water stored in theat least one water tank to the dispenser by stopping passage of waterstored in the at least one water tank to the icemaker if the dispenseroperates during water flow to the icemaker.

In some implementations, the at least one water tank may include a firstwater tank configured to store water to be supplied to the dispenser anda second water tank configured to store water to be supplied to theicemaker. In these implementations, the passage valve may be positionedin a passage between an external water supply source provided outsidethe storage compartment and the first and second water tanks and maycontrol water supply to the first and second water tanks. Further, inthese implementations, the refrigerator may include an accommodationpart configured to accommodate the second water tank separately from thefirst water tank and configured to maintain a temperature of the secondwater tank above a freezing temperature, but lower than a temperature ofthe first water tank.

In yet another aspect, a control method of a refrigerator includesdetermining whether a dispenser operation signal is input and, inresponse to a determination that the dispenser operation signal isinput, determining whether water supply to an icemaker is in progress.In response to a determination that water supply to the icemaker is inprogress, water supply to the icemaker is at least temporarily stoppedand water is supplied to the dispenser.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the method may include monitoring for completion of adispensing operation associated with the dispenser operation signal anddetecting completion of the dispensing operation based on themonitoring. In this example, the method may include re-starting watersupply to the icemaker in response to detecting completion of thedispensing operation.

In addition, the method may include delaying water supply to theicemaker for a predetermined time period. In response to a determinationthat water supply to the icemaker is not in progress, water may besupplied to the dispenser and initiation of water supply to the icemakermay be prevented while supplying water to the dispenser.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description, below. Other potentialfeatures and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the refrigerator;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating control components of arefrigerator; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a control method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 1, arefrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention includes a cabinet 1, a storage compartment 3 provided in thecabinet 1 and a door 5 for opening and closing the storage compartment.

A water tank 13 is provided in the storage compartment 3, specifically,in a refrigerator compartment to store water supplied from an externalwater supply source 10.

A water amount adjusting valve 16 and a filter 19 are installed betweenthe water tank 13 and the external water source 10. The water amountadjusting valve 16 controls water flow and it adjusts the amount of thewater and the filter 19 filers the water.

The door 5 is rotatably coupled to the cabinet 1 and the door 5 includesan ice-making chamber 23 and a dispenser (40, see FIG. 2) installedtherein. Ice is made and preserved in the ice-making chamber 23 andwater is dispensed from the dispenser 40.

The ice-making chamber 23 includes an icemaker 26 for making ice and anice-container 29 for storing the ice made by the icemaker 26 in theice-making chamber 23.

A passage valve 33 is provided under the ice-making chamber 23 to supplythe water preserved cool in the water tank 13 toward the dispenser 40and the icemaker 26 selectively or simultaneously.

The passage valve 33 may be a 3-way valve and is installed at a branchedposition between a guide hose 55 toward the dispenser 40 and a guidehose 56 toward the icemaker.

A hose 57 connecting the water tank 13 with the passage valve 33 isarranged along a wall of the cabinet 1 to be an inner wall of the door 5via a hinge unit 60 rotatably supporting the door 5.

Here, inner space of the ice-making chamber 23 is closed by anice-making door rotatably coupled to a predetermined wall of theice-making chamber 23 such that the inner space may be partitioned offfrom inner space of the storage compartment 3.

FIG. 2 illustrates the example refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 from thefront. As shown in FIG. 2, the dispenser 40 is mounted to a frontsurface of the door 5 and the passage valve 33 is installed in rear ofthe dispenser 40, such that the water drawn into the dispenser 40 or theicemaker 26 may be guided as mentioned above.

The hose 56 branched from the passage valve 33 toward the icemaker 26 isarranged along a side wall of the door 5 and an outlet of the hose 56 isarranged toward an ice-making tray 27 of the icemaker 26.

Because of such an arrangement, the water flowing toward the icemaker 26passes the water tank (13, see FIG. 1) and the passage valve 33 to fallinto the ice-making tray 27 such that the water is received in theice-making tray 27.

In addition, the water flowing toward the dispenser 40, if the userpushes the lever 42 of the dispenser 40, passes the water tank 13 andthe passage valve 33 to be discharged from the outlet of the hose 55provided beyond an upper end of the lever 42 such that the water isreceived in a container such as a cup.

The hoses 55, 56 and 57 installed in the door 5 may be installed outsidethe ice-making chamber to reduce the likelihood (e.g., prevent) thewater flowing in the hoses from freezing. Here, the hoses 55, 56 and 57may be embedded in the door 5 to be hidden from view when the door 5 isopen.

As the temperature inside the ice-making chamber 23 has to be maintainedbelow zero degrees, a wall surrounding the ice-making chamber 23 may beheat-insulated not to be influenced by temperatures over the freezingpoint.

The water flow will be described in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Thewater from the external water supply source is not directly supplied tothe ice-making chamber 23 but supplied to the water tank 13 to be storedtherein for a predetermined time period.

Here, the water tank 13 is installed in a rear or side portion of therefrigerator compartment 3 and the water stored in the water tank 13will have its temperature lowered noticeably by the influence of thetemperature, approximately 3° C., inside the refrigerator compartment 3.

If the user pushes the lever 42 of the dispenser 40 in a state of thewater stored in the water tank 13, the water flows from the water tank13 toward the passage valve 33 (A direction) and the water havingreached the passage valve 33 flows toward the dispenser 40 to bedischarged (B direction).

In case a signal for starting ice-making is input, the water from thewater tank 13 flows upward along the hose 56 provided on the side of theice-making chamber 23 via the passage valve 33 and it falls into theice-making tray 27 of the icemaker 26 (C direction).

If the water preserved cool by the temperature inside the refrigeratorcompartment 3 is supplied to the ice-making tray 27, cold air inside theice-making chamber 23 takes away heat from the water and thus it takesless time to make ice from the water.

As a result, the ice-making time may be economized in comparison to theice-making time in case of supplying the normal temperature water, forexample, approximately 20° C.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 3, twowater tanks are installed in a rear portion of the refrigeratorcompartment 3 and they will be referenced to as a first water tank 113and a second water tank 213.

Here, the first water tank 113 preserves cooled water to be supplied tothe dispenser (40, see FIG. 2) and the second water tank 213 preservescooled water to be supplied to the icemaker 26.

In some examples, the external water supply source 10 and a water amountadjusting valve 116 are installed. Here, the water amount adjustingvalve 116 is employed to determine the flow direction of the water drawninto the first and second water tanks 113 and 213 from the externalwater supply source 10 as well as to adjust the amount of the water.

A first filter 119 and a second filter 219 are provided between thefirst and second water tanks 113 and 213 and the water amount adjustingvalve 116 to filter the water.

A hose 155 connected to an outlet of the first water tank 113 isconnected to the dispenser 40 along a wall of the cabinet 1, the hingeunit 60 and a wall of the door 5.

A valve 133 is provided in the hose 155 toward the dispenser 40 tocontrol water flow.

The hose 256 connected to an outlet of the second water tank 213 isinstalled along the wall of the cabinet 1, the hinge unit 60 and thedoor 5. Here, the outlet of the hose 256 is arranged toward theice-making tray 27.

The hoses 155 and 256 connected to the outlets of the first and secondwater tanks 113 and 213 may be independently in the cabinet 1 and thedoor 5, respectively.

The water flow of the above configuration is described below.

If the user pushes the lever (42, see FIG. 2) of the dispenser 40 in astate of the water stored in the first water tank 113, the water amountadjusting valve 116 is open toward the first water tank 113.

Then, the water newly drawn into the first water tank 113 pushes thewater previously stored therein toward the dispenser 40 (D direction).

The water previously stored in the first water tank 113 is exposed tothe cold air of the storage compartment 3, preserved cool. Because ofthat, the user may be given cold water.

In addition, in case a signal for starting ice-making is input, thewater amount adjusting valve 116 is open toward the second water tank213. The water preserved cool in the second water tank 213 is pushed bythe water newly supplied thereto to flow toward the icemaker (Edirection).

Once the water having a predetermined temperature similar to thetemperature inside the storage compartment 3 is supplied to theice-making tray 27, the time taken to make ice after taking away heatfrom the water and the ice-making time may decrease and the total timeperiod for completing the ice-making may be reduced.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 4, therefrigerator may include an accommodation part 300, a cold air guideduct 310 and a closable member 313, compared to the above embodiment.The accommodation part 300 accommodates the second water tank 213 thatstores the water to be supplied to the icemaker and the cold air guideduct 310 guides some of the cold air inside the freezer compartmenttoward the accommodation part 300. The closable member 313 is providedin the cold air guide duct 310 or a connection portion between theaccommodation part 300 and the cold guide duct 310 to selectivelycontrol the supply of cold air to the freezer compartment.

In addition, a temperature sensor 315 is mounted in the accommodationpart 300 to measure a temperature inside the accommodation part 300.

The accommodation part 300 is provided so that a temperature near thesecond water tank 213 is maintained below the temperature of therefrigerator compartment 3 and beyond the freezing point of water (i.e.,zero degrees Celsius).

That is, if the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3 ismaintained approximately at 3° C., the temperature inside theaccommodation part 300 may be maintained at 1° C.˜2° C.

If the temperature of the water supplied to the icemaker 26 is loweredmore, the ice-making time may be further reduced.

The water flow toward the dispenser (40, see FIG. 2) and the ice-makingoperation of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 4 may be similar to thatdescribed above with respect to FIG. 3. Thus, the configuration relatedto the accommodation part 300 will be described below without repeatingthe prior description.

If it is determined by the temperature sensor 315 installed in theaccommodation part 300 that the temperatures therein are beyond apredetermined range, the closable member 313 is operated to make theaccommodation part 300 in communication with the freezer compartment.

Because of that, the cold air of the freezer compartment is drawn intothe accommodation part 300 and the temperature inside the accommodationpart 300 is lowered. Hence, if it is determined by the temperaturesensor 315 that the measured temperature is within the predeterminedrange, the closable member 313 is closed again to reduce the likelihood(e.g., prevent) the inside of the accommodation part 300 fromovercooling.

If the inside of the accommodation part 300 is overcooled, the wateraccommodated in the second water tank 213 might be frozen and thus theoperation of the closable member 313 should be performed fast aspossible.

FIG. 5 illustrates example control components for a refrigerator. Asshown in FIG. 5, a control part 400 is installed in the refrigerator tocontrol the water supply to the dispenser and the water supply for theice-making.

A power unit 401 for supplying power, the lever 42 of the dispenser 40,and the temperature sensor 315 in case of the refrigerator shown in FIG.4 may be connected to an input terminal of the control part 400. Anice-ejector driving part 402, a dispenser driving part 41, and a passagevalve/water amount adjusting valve driving part 216 may be connected toan output terminal of the control part 400. Here, the ice-ejectordriving part 402 is driven to eject the ice stored in the ice containerof the ice-making chamber 23 and the dispenser driving part 41 is drivento supply the water to the dispenser.

The water supply to the dispenser 40 and the icemaker 26 is performedaccording to a command of the control part, with the aboveconfiguration.

In some implementations, if the lever of the dispenser is operatedduring the water supply to the icemaker, the priority order of watersupply may be a problem and an example control method of the watersupply priority order is shown in FIG. 6.

First, it is determined whether a dispenser operation signal to dispensewater from the dispenser is input (S101). The determination of whetherthe operation signal is input may be based on whether the lever of thedispenser is operated.

It is determined whether water is being supplied to the icemakercurrently (S102). If it is determined that the water is supplied to theicemaker, the water supply to the icemaker is stopped (S103) and thewater supply to the dispenser starts (S104). If the water is notsupplied to the icemaker currently, the water is supplied to thedispenser.

The water supply to the icemaker may be stopped so that the pressure ofthe water flowing into the dispenser is dispersed as the water issupplied to both of the dispenser and the icemaker simultaneously.

After the water supply to the dispenser is performed in the state wherethe water supply to the icemaker is stopped, it is determined whetherthe dispenser operation signal is stopped (S105). If it is determinedthat the dispenser operation signal is stopped, the water supply to theicemaker re-starts, perhaps immediately (S106).

It will be understood that various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the claims. For example,advantageous results still could be achieved if steps of the disclosedtechniques were performed in a different order and/or if components inthe disclosed systems were combined in a different manner and/orreplaced or supplemented by other components. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims.

1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerating compartment; an icemakerconfigured to freeze liquid water into ice; a dispenser configured todispense liquid water and ice made by the icemaker; a water tank that ispositioned at the refrigerating compartment, that is configured toreceive liquid water from a water supply source, and that is configuredto store the received liquid water in a cooled liquid state, the cooledliquid state having a temperature lower than a temperature at which thewater is received from the water supply source; a dispenser tube that isconfigured to guide water stored in the water tank in the cooled liquidstate to the dispenser for dispensing; and an icemaker tube that isconfigured to guide water stored in the water tank in the cooled liquidstate to the icemaker for making ice.
 2. The refrigerator as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising: a passage valve connected to the watertank, the dispenser tube, and the icemaker tube and configured tocontrol supply of water stored in the water tank in the cooled liquidstate to the dispenser alone, the icemaker alone, or both the dispenserand the icemaker.
 3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, furthercomprising: a refrigerating compartment door configured to open andclose at least a portion of the refrigerating compartment, wherein theicemaker and the dispenser are positioned on the refrigeratingcompartment door and the water tank and the passage valve are positionedin the refrigerating compartment.
 4. The refrigerator as claimed inclaim 2, further comprising: a control part configured to control thepassage valve to stop supply of water to the icemaker during operationof the dispenser, and control the passage valve to re-start supply ofwater to the icemaker when the operation of the dispenser stops.
 5. Therefrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a passage valveconnected to the water tank, the dispenser tube, and the icemaker tubeand configured to control supply of water stored in the water tank inthe cooled liquid state to the dispenser alone or the icemaker alone. 6.The refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: arefrigerating compartment door configured to open and close at least aportion of the refrigerating compartment, wherein the icemaker and thedispenser are positioned on the refrigerating compartment door and thewater tank and the passage valve are positioned in the refrigeratingcompartment.
 7. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, furthercomprising: a control part configured to control the passage valve tostop supply of water to the icemaker during operation of the dispenser,and control the passage valve to re-start supply of water to theicemaker when the operation of the dispenser stops.
 8. The refrigeratoras claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an accommodation partconfigured to accommodate the water tank.
 9. The refrigerator as claimedin claim 8, further comprising: a cold air guide duct configured toguide cold air from inside a freezer compartment toward theaccommodation part; a temperature sensor configured to measure atemperature of the accommodation part; and a closable member provided atthe cold air guide duct and configured to open and close the cold airguide duct and, thereby, control an amount of cold air drawn into theaccommodation part.
 10. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 9, whereinthe temperature of the accommodation part is maintained above a freezingtemperature.
 11. A refrigerator comprising: a storage compartment; adoor configured to open and close at least a portion of the storagecompartment; an ice-making chamber; an icemaker provided in theice-making chamber and configured to freeze liquid water into ice; adispenser mounted on the door and configured to dispense liquid waterand ice made by the icemaker; and a water supply device configured tosupply water to the icemaker and the dispenser, the water supply devicecomprising at least one water tank that is configured to store liquidwater below a predetermined temperature and that is connected to boththe icemaker and the dispenser.
 12. The refrigerator as claimed in claim11, wherein the water supply device comprises a passage valve connectedto the at least one water tank to control passage of water dischargedfrom or drawn into the at least one water tank.
 13. The refrigerator asclaimed in claim 12, wherein the passage valve is configured to allowpassage of water stored in the at least one water tank to the dispenserby stopping passage of water stored in the at least one water tank tothe icemaker if the dispenser operates during water flow to theicemaker.
 14. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 12: wherein the atleast one water tank comprises, a first water tank configured to storewater to be supplied to the dispenser; a second water tank configured tostore water to be supplied to the icemaker, and wherein the passagevalve is positioned in a passage between an external water supply sourceprovided outside the storage compartment and the first and second watertanks, the passage valve controlling water supply to the first andsecond water tanks.
 15. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 14, furthercomprising: an accommodation part configured to accommodate the secondwater tank separately from the first water tank and configured tomaintain a temperature of the second water tank above a freezingtemperature, but lower than a temperature of the first water tank.
 16. Acontrol method of a refrigerator comprising: determining whether adispenser operation signal is input; in response to a determination thatthe dispenser operation signal is input, determining whether watersupply to an icemaker is in progress; and in response to a determinationthat water supply to the icemaker is in progress: at least temporarilystopping water supply to the icemaker; and supplying water to thedispenser.
 17. The control method of the refrigerator as claimed inclaim 16, further comprising: monitoring for completion of a dispensingoperation associated with the dispenser operation signal; and detectingcompletion of the dispensing operation based on the monitoring.
 18. Thecontrol method of the refrigerator as claimed in claim 17, furthercomprising re-starting water supply to the icemaker in response todetecting completion of the dispensing operation.
 19. The control methodof the refrigerator as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least temporarilystopping water supply to the icemaker comprises delaying water supply tothe icemaker for a predetermined time period.
 20. The control method ofthe refrigerator as claimed in claim 16, further comprising, in responseto a determination that water supply to the icemaker is not in progress,supplying water to the dispenser and preventing initiation of watersupply to the icemaker while supplying water to the dispenser.